Mullaperiyar issue getting worse; when will Kerala get new dam?

Mullaperiyar Dam was built to provide water for agriculture in Cumbum, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu which are suffering from severe drought. The dam, made of surkhi, limestone and granite, was estimated to have a maximum lifespan of 60 years in 1895 when it was completed. Now it is twice as old. Kerala is demanding a new dam but Tamil Nadu's position is that the old dam is strong and there is no need for a new one.

According to a 2014 ruling by the Supreme Court, a new dam cannot be built without Tamil Nadu's approval. However, floods and landslides occurred in Kerala in 2018 and 2019 after this verdict. Experts have suggested that climate change is behind this. Keeping these things in mind, the state is rightfully demanding that a new environmental impact study be conducted and permission to build the new dam be given based on that. However, Tamil Nadu is not ready for any compromise in this regard and is hardening its stance against the construction of the dam. The dispute here is not about the amount of water that Tamil Nadu gets. Meanwhile, the dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka regarding the sharing of Kaveri river water is that Karnataka is preventing Tamil Nadu from getting the water it deserves. Kerala is releasing more water to Tamil Nadu even by raising the water level of the dam at Mullaperiyar. Tamil Nadu is also generating electricity from water supplied by Kerala. The dam located in Kerala is under the operational supervision of Tamil Nadu. Mullaperiyar Dam has done nothing but good for Tamil Nadu.

The ageing dam has been found leaking several times and these leaks have been re-sealed frequently. Kerala has repeatedly said that the dam is unable to withstand heavy floods and that the dam is a security threat not only to the people living in the valley of the dam but also to those in nearby districts, but Kerala has not been able to fully convince the High Court and the central government committees. If the threat was for Tamil Nadu, it would have raised its voice for a new dam already. Kerala's move for a new dam cannot be ruled out by any unbiased judge. Kerala is not saying that it will not provide water to Tamil Nadu. It is only saying that action should be taken to ensure the security of Kerala while providing water.

However, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has sent a letter to the Center against Kerala's move for a new dam. Tamil Nadu is demanding that Kerala's actions are contempt of court and should be withdrawn. Tamil Nadu was angered by Kerala's attempt to get environmental clearance for the new dam. Due to Tamil Nadu's opposition, the Environment Ministry abandoned the meeting to consider Kerala's application seeking environmental clearance. In any case, Kerala should go ahead with the demand for a new dam. The Supreme Court that ruled that Kerala can build a dam only with Tamil Nadu's permission could waive that condition to build the dam in the context of a fresh environmental impact study. Kerala should continue its efforts to solve the problem at the legal and administrative level without giving way to clashes and struggles between the two groups of people.